Girl Scouts Honored For Volunteering At Animal Rescue

BRENDA SULLIVANReminder News

"Girls, badges and cookies - to many, that is all Girl Scouts is about. But Girl Scouts is about so much more than that," said Garnet Welch on June 14 at South Windsor Public Library, as she and other members of Troop 10195 accepted their Silver Awards for community service.

Scouting is a powerful bonding experience, she said.

"I look forward to working more with the girls I have grown so close to and to keep making the world a better place one good deed, one person and one heart at a time. And to show the world that although we may all look different, with different skin, different customs and speak different tongues, that we all smile in the same language," she said.

The local Girl Scouts, who are 13 and 14 years old, recently completed 50 hours of community service as volunteers at Tara Farm Rescue in Coventry, thus earning them the second highest award in Girl Scouts. For almost two years, the girls have helped care for a host of animals that the farm's owner, BonnieJeanne Gordon, brings to the farm – horses, goats, mules, llamas, rabbits, chickens, pigs, dogs and cats – that have suffered from abuse and neglect.

The experience was an eye-opener for the girls, they said. While they'd seen images of animal abuse on television, their suffering – and the healing they receive at Tara Farm – was made real as the girls fed and cared for these creatures.

Welch expressed the troop's appreciation of what they learned from their volunteer work. "The Silver Award, to me, will always represent the change we as Girl Scouts have made together at Tara Farm. Cleaning, feeding and giving love to the unfortunate animals has warmed the hearts of all. When I look at the Silver Award, it will always remind me of the help we were able to provide," she said in her speech.

For troop member Sofia Lomba, the volunteer work also dovetails with her goal of becoming a veterinarian. "I spent most of the time with the cats. That was fun. Some of them had respiratory problems, so I think learning about that will help when I am a veterinarian," she said.

In fact, all of the girls saw their experiences – including organizing several fundraisers for the farm and creating educational displays for Tara Farm – as important to their future goals.

Emma Scimone said she intends to enter the medical field, but hasn't zeroed in on a specialty. Rebecca Katz would like to be an animal control officer or, as she put it, "an animal cop."

Payal Shah hopes to pursue film-making. Abby Bourdon is interested in early-childhood education. And Garnet Welch's goal is to attend Amherst College and explore teaching, art and oceanology – the science of marine resources and technology.

Scout leader Kathleen Scimone praised the girls for their hard work and the positive impression it made on the farm's owners. "You've made a permanent change... other seventh- and eight-graders will now be allowed to volunteer at the farm," she said.

During the reception that followed the ceremony, some of the girls talked about how much fun they've had at outdoor adventures, including a stay at a "dude ranch" in upstate New York called Rocking Horse Ranch.

"On the first day, you miss your cell phone, but then you're too busy having fun," said Sofia Lomba.

That aspect of Scouting has stayed the same over the years, said Pat Hogan Welch, Garnet's grandmother – who gifted Garnet with her own Brownie pin and Girl Scout ring. "Girl Scouts is where I really got to know it's good to be with other people... Today, with all the iPhones and computers, this is a way for Garnet to get out and be with people of all different personalities... and have fun," Welch said.